Online wine retailer launches canine courier service

As retailers struggle to fulfill the increased numbers of online orders, one UK wine supplier has scrapped its usual delivery fleet and launched a canine courier service.

Founder of newly-established Brix and Mortar, Avril Smith, said the move was inspired by a winery in Maryland that has been using an 11-year-old boxer called Soda to deliver bottles to punters. 

Smith said she was hoping to set up local canine delivery hubs and was calling on members of the public to donate their dogs for the day.

She added that Brix and Mortar would pay the going rate and would offer weekly bonuses in the form of dog treats and toilet roll.

The wine supplier has enforced strict safety measures in light of the current health crisis. Each dog will be washed before beginning its duties, and will also be weighed to calculate how many bottles it can safely transport.

Jagger from South London is one of the first dogs to be cleared for delivery duty.

This will be followed by a one hour training and health and safety briefing before the dogs are ready to begin their work.

It follows news reported last month that the UK government has added off-licences to the list of businesses deemed “essential” and therefore allowed to operate during the lockdown.

The World Health Organisation has said there is no evidence that pets can be either a source of infection or become infected with Covid-19.

For more information on how to donate your dog, and how the deliveries will be coordinated, please click here.